The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc., a Jarratt, Va., establishment, expanded a recall of deli meat products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The establishment recalls approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. Whole genome sequencing results show that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.
The first recall involved all liverwurst products produced by the establishment available in commerce because they may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company also recalled additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst and, therefore, may be adulterated. The company is recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products.
The expansion includes 71 products produced between May 10, 2024, and July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. These items include meat intended for slicing at retail delis and some packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations. These products have “sell by” dates ranging from 29 July 2024 through 17 October 24. View the full product list. View labels.
The products subject to recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide and some were exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. The products shipped to retailers bear the establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
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When did the recall start
The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for testing as part of an outbreak investigation of L. monocytogenes infections. Further testing determined the product sample tested positive for the outbreak strain.
FSIS is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate the multistate outbreak of L. monocytogenes infections linked to meats sliced at delis. As of July 30, 2024, 34 sick people have been identified in 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Samples were collected from sick people from May 29, 2024, to July 12, 2024.
FSIS concern
FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators and retail deli cases. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them, and retailers are urged not to sell them with the referenced sell-by dates. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers who have purchased these products are also urged to clean refrigerators thoroughly to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.
FSIS recommends retail delis clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces and discard any open meats and cheeses in the deli. Retailers may refer to FSIS’ guideline, Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens, for information on steps to prevent certain ready-to-eat foods that are prepared or sliced in retail delis and consumed in the home, such as deli meats and deli salads, from becoming contaminated with L. monocytogenes.